Cape Town – One city, two faces

A rugged, mountainous landscape, choppy Atlantic waters, sharks and whales cavorting off the coast – Cape Town definitely has a wild side. But the South African metropolis can also come across as gentle, playful and even romantic. We take a look at both sides.

Toothy smile

Please clamp down elsewhere, big scary fish. You’re allowed to show your smile on the far side of the diving cage when visitors drop by to meet you.

Desert happening

An archaic version of Burning Man in Nevada, Afrika-Burn attracts thousands to celebrate art and set things on fire in the Karoo desert near Cape Town every year.

Steep ascent

Who needs a cable car when you can scale the almost 1100 meters of Table Mountain on your own? Cape Town is the closest thing to paradise for ambitious climbers.

Wild ride

Big-wave surfers will come into their own in Cape Town, too: Dungeons reef is famous for its wintertime surf conditions and up to 15-meter waves.

Big five

Take a ­safari at Inverdoorn Game Reserve a few hours from Cape Town and you will have a chance to see them all: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo.

Let it rip

Rent a Harley and go cruising down legendary Route 62 – before roaring through the Karoo desert. Cape Town is an excellent starting point for biking tours.

Prizewinner

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has won 34 gold medals at the famous Chelsea Flower Show. It’s also one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Africa

Color me happy

Red and yellow and green and blue: The brightly painted houses in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap neighborhood are the perfect backdrop for a romantic stroll.

Cute characters

There are 15 000 penguins living on Robben Island, formerly a prison. African penguins are smaller – and perhaps even more adorable – than their cousins in Antarctica.

Sundowner

Sail off into the sunset from the V&A Waterfront harbor district while sipping champagne – can you think of a more serenely indulgent way to end the day in Cape Town?

Treat yourself

Beautiful blouses, heavenly hats and fantastic footwear can all be found at MeMeMe – a fashionable boutique frequented by the style-conscious of Cape Town.

Grapes galore

Stellenbosch, a wine-growing region east of Cape Town, has 120 vinyards and wineries. It is one of the biggest and most beautiful wine regions in Africa.

Getting there from Germany

Find out how to book affordable flights to the Lufthansa city of the month and other selected Lufthansa destinations at mileagebargain.com.